Position: Women's collective organizer, San Francisco Day Labor Program and Women's Collective

If you had an extra hour in the day, what would you do with it?

I'd write songs for social justice movements. I'd also plan out my days more efficiently, especially in regard to reading up on different issues from domestic violence to domestic workers' issues.

What's your schedule like outside the office?

In the morning I drop my kids off at school, and after work I help my kids with their homework, sing to them, and sometimes cook (my husband does most of the cooking). I sleep six to seven hours every night since there are always e-mails to respond to and things to plan. When I don't work on Saturdays and Sundays, I dedicate quality time to my husband and children.

What's your favorite escape from the pressures of the workplace? I enjoy writing songs to escape and also feel connected to the domestic workers movement. I also compose songs for my children and grandchildren.

Who is your favorite famous female leader and why?

Clara Luz Navarro, who founded Mujeres Unidas y Activas without speaking the language of this country, because she believed in me. She taught me leadership principles and how to have a wide vision in ending violence against Latina women that immigrate to this country to survive. Without her, I would never have founded the Women's Collective and created leaders in social movements without regard to gender, religion, race, age or language. This has helped the Women's Collective to be a strong force in social movements that strive to fight for human rights.

What is a mistake you've made in your career and how did you recover from it?

I think one of my greatest errors has been not having gone to school to learn how to read and write English more efficiently. Right now, I'm putting a lot of effort toward learning English, because I know it's something that would help me both personally and professionally, as it would alleviate some insecurities.

At what moments have you been the most or least aware of your role as a woman in a male-dominated industry?

The simple fact of being a woman means that your work goes undervalued. I've personally felt this type of inequality during different times throughout my career. I have received a lot of recognition as a woman, though, and see that little by little we're raising the consciousnesses of people in our community and in mainstream society. As a Latina immigrant woman who has sat on boards, I'm proud to be an example for women who come from the same background.